Neck stretches under running water are relaxing, particularly to the nervous system.

From yogajournal.com:

Many studies, including biofeedback and other disciplines, have shown that relaxation of the muscles in the neck, jaws, and face can have powerful calming effects on the entire nervous system.

Fine, it doesn’t have to be in the shower, but that’s where I perform them, dammit. The shower is a sacred place. No, not because you keep your coconut oil there, but because your phone and computer aren’t waterproof. Think about it, where else do you visit where you are unable to comfortably bring your electronics? Translation: you can carve out ten minutes sans distraction.

Now that your mind has completed its spin about the combination of coconut oil and electronics, we can get serious and back to business.

How much time do you spend hunched over those electronic screens? That poor posture can become a pain in the neck. From active.com:

Upper back and neck tension are complaints that are becoming more prevalent in physical therapy offices. With the increasing use of computers, desk jobs and time sitting in traffic, it’s hard to avoid these aches and pains regardless of how active you are.

This isn’t a judgment – Kaplifestyle is a judgment free zone. Realistically, you don’t have a choice. Your job is to hit keys on a keypad. These days, so is mine. I stand most of the time while typing, but I still spend too much time in neck compromising positions. Therefore, I know loosening up my self-induced tightness is a necessity. Finding a few moments to rub together…phew.

I know, you’re on board with relaxing those muscles, but it’s those few moments that are giving you pause. On any given day, we all have activity followed by activity. The days are packed with work and workouts. If I tell you to add another layer to your burrito, you’ll say the tortilla isn’t big enough. But what if I make the tortilla bigger?

That’s why the shower is the ideal place to add a quick stretch routine. This one is especially easy and useful. Here’s a sample; it won’t take more than 5 minutes soup to nuts. Perform these moves slowly:

• Chin to Chest – Slowly begin to lower your neck down by lowering your chin down to your chest and gently hold for a few moments. Repeat.
• Head back – Lean your head back as far as you can while standing straight up and down. Keep your chest up and shoulders back. Repeat.
• Ear to Shoulder – Lower your right ear towards your right shoulder. Repeat. Duplicate with left ear to left shoulder. Repeat.

These are good sample moves, but this post isn’t about the perfect neck stretching routine. The takeaway is to implement efficient systems in a world filled with action. Find the short, relaxing and effective stretch that works for you, but more importantly, find times to fit it in.

For me, shower time is a place to squeeze in a neck stretch. Tell us about your system.

Kap